signaling means



1956 J. F. BISHOP DOOR SIGNALING MEANS Filed Nov. 19, 1953 United States Patent G DOOR SIGNALKNG MEANS Joseph F. Bishop, Newark, N. 3. Application November 1?, 1953, Serial No. 3%,173 3 Claims. (Ci. Rid-40 i} This invention relates to a door signaling means whereby when a door is opened or closed a plurality of musical tones will be rendered so that an occupant of the room or an adjacent one may be given a signal that someone is either coming into the room through the door or going out of the room and closing the door. it happens many times that children of various ages like to go out doors contrary to their mothers orders especially when she is in another room or some part of the house away from the exit door, hence it is the principal object of my invention to provide a door signaling means which will transmit a signal to the occupants within the house when someone is opening and closing an exit door. A further object of my invention is to provide a signaling means which will produce a signal having a plurality of tones preferably of a musical nature. Another object of my invention is to provide signaling means which is adapted to be mounted on a door that is hinged so that it swings either to the right or to the left, a signaling means being adaptable to either type of swinging door. Another object of my invention is to provide a door signaling means that can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price whereby it may find its way into a large number of houses, apartments or even certain types of stores. These and other objects will appear from the reading of the specification taken in connection with the annexed drawing wherein Figure 1 is a view of the signaling means mounted on a door hinged to swing to the right.

Figure 2 is plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows the position of the lever and associated ball striking element when attached to the door hinged to move to the left. It being understood that the cooperating part is positioned above the door instead of at the side as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts. 1 shows the upper corner portion of a door hinged at the right to swing toward the observer. 2 is the door frame having side edge a and top edge b to receive the door 1. The part that is mounted on the door frame consists of a metal block 3 having an upperly extending portion 4 with screw holes 5 therein for fastening the block to the door frame 2. Attached to the metal block 3 in a satisfactory manner as by screws 6 is a plate 7 which may be of durable wood or plastic material to which is attached a cover 8 having top and side members. Preferably the plate 7 has an edge groove 9 to receive the sides 10 which may be made all in one piece with the plate 7 or the top may be made with a groove to take the sides or the top and sides made in one piece to fit on the plate 7. Fastened to the metal block 3 are a plurality of metallic rods 11 preferably of steel, these rods being of different lengths as shown in Figure 2, although they may be approximately the same diameter. It is noted in Figure 1 that the rods 11 are exposed where they leave the block 3 to the edge 12 of the cover 8.

Mounted on the door by screws 13 is a block 14 which may be of wood or other suitable material preferably nonmetallic. On the block is mounted an L-shaped lever 15 having a loop opening 16 therein to adjustably receive a mounted washer and screw 17. Preferably a felt washer is placed on the opposite side of the loop 16 to make it easier to adjust the lever The end 1 8 of the lever 15 has a turned up end 19 to receive the turned up end 20 of a rod or pin 21 on the end of which is fastened a suitable metallic ball 22. in the operation of the structure just described the lever 15' and associated parts is positioned so that the horizontal diameter of the ball 22 is in alignment with the axis of the rods 11 which are all in the same plane so that when the door 1 is swung open the ball 22 will hit each of the rods 11 as it passes over them. In this arrangement good substantial tones are made both when the door is opened and when the door is closed.

As an alternative when the door is hinged to swing left-handed the lever 15 is mounted in the position shown in Figure 6 and the reed unit is mounted on the door frame above the door but in the same general position as shown in Figure 1.

It should be noted that the plate 7 and cover 8 and the sides 19 forms in effect an echo chamber which emphasizes and transmits the vibrations of the rods or reeds 11 so that a substantial harmonious sound is made by the structure as the ball 22 strikes the rods as it passes thereover on opening or closing the door.

It will be obvious that several of the details may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appending claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A door signaling means including a structure for mounting on a door frame and a cooperative part for mounting on the frame door, said structure having a metallic block at one end with means for fastening the block to a door frame, the structure also having a plurality of spaced circular reeds of different lengths fastened to the block and extending therefrom and an echo chamber comprising a casing positioned over the free ends of the reeds and toward but not to said block to leave a free space, and a lever adapted to be adjustably mounted on the door and having a part carrying a device for striking the reeds at said free space when the door is opened or closed.

2. A door signaling means including a structure for mounting on a door frame and a cooperative part for mounting on the frame door, said structure having a block of suitable material at one end with means at one end of the block for fastening it to a part of a door frame, the structure having a plurality of spaced rods of relatively small diameter and of different lengths fastened to and and an adjustable lever for mounting on the door and having a part carrying a device for striking the rods at said exposed part when the door is opened or closed.

3. A door signaling means as set forth in claim 2 further defined in that the rods are of different lengths arranged in progressive order from the shorter rod, said lever having its mounting and preferably in engagement with a suitable flexible washer for the purpose described, the lever being in two freely movable parts whereby the lever will be operative with the said structure whether it be mounted closely adjacent on the vertical or horizontal side of the door frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

